#DailyDevotion God The Father Had A Plan For Jesus

Wednesday after Trinity

Acts 2:14 Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, . . . 22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

 

It’s not as if the people Peter in Jerusalem hadn’t heard about Jesus. Obviously by Peter’s sermon they had. They had heard all about Jesus’ marvelous works, signs and wonders he had done. Peter pointed out to them that all these signs were an attestation from God. Indeed, Nicodemus said, “We know God is with you because no one could do what you’re doing if he weren’t.” Particularly the gospel of John uses the signs Jesus works to give testimony to who Jesus is and where he is from.

 

Jesus was crucified, dead and buried because of the definite plan and foreknowledge of God. Isaiah 53 speaks particularly to this. Isaiah says that it please God to crush him for our iniquities. Yes even in Genesis 3:15 the Lord foretold Jesus’ death as the serpent strikes the seed of the woman. When Abraham offers us Isaac on Mount Moriah, the mountains Jesus was offered up on the cross, it foretold of the Father offering up his only begotten son.

 

But our God is a God of means. He used an evil man to betray Jesus. He used wicked people to convict Jesus of a sin he did not commit. The Father used evil men to mock, beat and crucify our Lord Jesus Christ to put him to death.

 

Jesus had offered himself willingly. While being killed at the hand of wicked men, it was still Jesus who freely gave up his spirit unto death. Because Jesus did this, the Father raised Jesus up from the dead. Death could not hold him. He was victorious over our enemies of sin, death and the devil. Jesus’ raised from the dead is now also our victory over the grave. His sacrifice was accepted. His suffering made atonement for our sins. The spilling of his blood made atonement for our sins.

All these things the Father and the Son have done for you, so you may believe in him and have eternal life.

 

Heavenly Father, grant us such faith in Jesus that we may believe and understand all that he has done for us and our salvation and give us lips that sing his praises. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.